Chicago Public Media announced that 26-year-old Greta Johnsen, born in Juneau and raised in Fairbanks, has joined the Public Affairs Department of WBEZ 91.5FM as a new weekend host, handling on-air duties Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 7am to noon.

She is an alum of Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and during college she was a Broadcast Engineer for WCAL Classical 89.3. Upon graduation, she returned to Alaska, and continued her public radio experience for four years at KUAC 89.9, the NPR affiliate station in Fairbanks, most recently serving as operations manager and Morning Edition host. In Alaska, she was a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, and also a member of the Alaska Press Club. Johnsen relocated to the Chicago area this fall to pursue a Master of Science in journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, from which she expects to graduate in December 2012.

Chicago Public Media is an institution that creates award-winning content for people seeking to learn more about the issues and ideas that affect our community, our nation, and our world. Chicago Public Media produces programs such as This American Life, Sound Opinions, Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me! (a co-production with NPR), Eight Forty-Eight, Worldview, and Radio M.

Ana Olivares-Ramos named Glacier Valley Rotary Student of the Month

Yaakoosge Daakahidi Alternative High School (YDHS) student Ana Olivares-Ramos has earned “Student of the Month” for August 2011. The Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club, along with YDHS, acknowledges Olivares-Ramos’ efforts.

In appreciation of her performance Ana received a certificate of achievement and a $50 U.S. Savings Bonds courtesy of Alaska Pacific Bank. The Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club encourages excellence in education and vocation through monthly student recognition in Juneau and congratulates Olivares-Ramos’ “Student of the Month” achievement.

Former Juneau resident Kjersten Criss was inducted into the Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Hall of Fame Thursday at the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University.

Criss is a research assistant working on devices for patients with movement disorders, and software to interface the movement sencors and computers. She is former president of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. Criss received the 2010 Outstanding ECE Undergraduate Student Award. Criss is the daughter of Juneau residents Tony and Claudia Criss.

U. of Kansas names JDHS grad a Self Graduate Fellow

Eight doctoral students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas’ prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship as they begin the 2011-2012 academic year. Self Graduate Fellowships are four-year awards to new or first-year Ph.D. students who demonstrate leadership, initiation, and a passion for achievement. The fellowship covers full tuition and fees, provides a $29,000 annual payment, and includes a unique development program. The Fellow Development Program provides general education and training in communication, management, and leadership to assist Self Fellows in preparation for future leadership roles, complementing the specialized education and training provided in Ph.D. programs.

Matt Josephson has learned to conquer any Rubik’s cube put in front of him. His dream is to have the same insight while conquering complex biological questions as a leader in biomedical science policy. Making quick yet thoughtful decisions won’t deter him either. He’s had ample experience with that as a lead zip-line guide in his hometown of Juneau. For the past year, Josephson has worked as a research technician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. His research there focused on cardiac myosin interactions. Josephson received his B.S. degree in biology in 2010 from South Dakota State University. While an undergraduate, Josephson conducted research focused on rice seed dormancy. At SDSU, he was a member of the men’s swim team and was the team captain his senior year. He was awarded a Gold Medal Athlete Award, given to student athletes who show excellence in academics and athletics. As a high school senior in Juneau, Josephson received a Territorial Sportsmen Scholarship for students dedicated to preserving natural resources. He has earned the rank of Eagle Scout and a bronze palm from the Boy Scouts of America. Josephson is the son of Ron and Jeanne Josephson and graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School.